Buying your house in France

First of all don’t worry. It’s not like buying a house in England. For a start it would be highly unusual to be gazumped! Though the process is quite different to that in the UK, it is fairly transparent and we can help you through it. Of course, if your understanding of French language is limited, it can seem a little scary but you can rely on us to help and inform you.

Remember that the buyer pays the fees. These will include the Notaire’s fees (as well as the agency fees if applicable). It is customary though not mandatory for the Notaire to act for both parties. This is quite a difference from the English process, which is based on an adversarial approach. The Notaire is acting for the state, rather than in the direct interest of buyer or seller. This is helpful as he can’t tell you he is waiting for papers from the other side! The Notaire’s fees will vary depending on the size of the house. Typically they will be between 4% and 8% but could be as high as 10%. Although this will hurt if your budget is tight, remember that if you sell on at any stage, the weight of these fees will fall on your buyer.

You may find some agencies seem to be vague as to what is included in the sale. They may not even know if there is electricity to the property or not! Always check the cadastral plan so that you know exactly what you are buying. Make sure you find out about the septic tank (Fosse septique). France is still a rural economy and a good proportion of country houses and even hamlets still do not have mains drainage (Tout a l’égout).